The air pressure that had been dull for half a day made the night extremely silent. The occasional muffled thunder from the sky was accumulating rain. Kyoto people who were quite experienced in this matter closed their doors and windows and huddled in their rooms to wait for the coming heavy rain.
My sweaty cheeks suddenly felt a touch of coolness. This was a signal sent by the breeze, reminding people that rain was coming.
Kondo Isamu and his group of 14 people hid in the alley at the back door of Ichimiya. Everyone took off their light green haori that represents the Shinsengumi, tied their chests and shoulders with ropes, took off their shoes and socks, and stood barefoot.
On the stone slab.
Kondo Isamu leaned against the wall and gently patted his beloved sword master Soya Kotetsu. This sword, with its upright posture, thick back and thin blade, is a practical weapon that is as tough and brave as Kondo Isamu's character. It is being held quietly by its owner at this time.
, waiting for the feast of blood that is about to be drunk.
Although he bought this famous sword that had been lost for nearly two hundred years from a sword shop for only fifty taels, no matter how brand-new the sword inscription was or how rough the grinding skills were, Isamu Kondo still firmly believed that his beloved sword was not a fake. In other words, even if
The real Kotetsu, which was rated as the highest grade by the "Huaibo Sword Ruler", was placed in front of him, and he would never replace the comrade in his hand who had accompanied him through several hard battles without losing his edge.
A huge raindrop fell from high in the sky. Souji Okita stretched out his palm keenly, and the raindrops scattered in his palm. In a moment, it rained heavily.
With a soft chirping sound, General Okita drew out his long knife and cut open the gate, pushed open the back door and stepped in first.
Hijikata Tobizo waved his hand, and according to the plan, two people were immediately separated to stay behind, and the rest of the people rushed into the dark store like a storm. Under their turn of guarding, it was certain that none of Serizawa Kamo and the others left the place, and
Through the light, you can easily see Serizawa walking up the stairs with Mei in his arms.
The heavy rain obscured the sounds of action. It was not until Okita, Kondo, Hijikata, and Saito reached the upper floor that several loud roars erupted in the hall downstairs. Then, a fierce clash of swords crackled like a heavy rain.
sounded.
Seeing this, the few people didn't hesitate any longer. They divided into two teams and smashed the paper door directly, jumping into the house where there were only two rooms upstairs.
Kondo Isamu and Hijikata Toshizo are both Nurijin-ryu masters. They have known each other for more than ten years. They know each other's martial arts well and their tacit understanding is far beyond ordinary people's imagination. Kondo Isamu kicked down the screen in the room and raised Kotetsu to aim at it.
The naked figure was about to be chopped off. The figure was quite alert. Even though he had one arm around the woman, the other hand was still next to his knife.
The first time he heard the noise was not to open his eyes and take stock of the situation, but to instinctively raise the long sword with its sheath to draw down the opponent's blade. The other hand suddenly exerted force, lifting the woman's sleeping body and throwing it at Kondo Isamu, while he himself
Using his strength, he turned over and stood up, drawing out his long sword to defend himself against the enemy.
This person was none other than Serizawa Kamo, the director of the Shinsengumi, and he was worthy of being the top expert of the Shinsengumi at this time. His reaction at this moment was not unpleasant, and his response was not perfect. Unfortunately, Isamu Kondo was not the only one to launch the attack.
Hijikata Toshizo had already set up the unique posture of Nuri Shin-ryu, Ogiheira Blue Eyes, when Kondo Isamu raised his sword to strike, and locked onto Serizawa Kamo's body. Even if his eyes were blocked by the body of a woman, Ame, he still did not hesitate.
pierced out!
The long knife penetrated the woman's white and soft belly, and Hijikata launched a second attack again, stabbing Serizawa Kamo against her body amidst Amei's shrill screams.
Serizawa didn't expect the opponent's attack to be so fierce, but he had no room to dodge as he was not yet firmly on his feet. He could only try his best to turn his body sideways, but Hijikata's sword pierced his shoulder. The sword style that penetrated the two of them still had no strength left.
Eliminate it and nail it directly into the wall board for more than half an inch.
Hijikata Toshizo obviously did not expect that Serizawa Kamo could avoid being in such a desperate situation, but his strength was exhausted, and it was impossible to change his moves to kill the enemy immediately with two people hanging on the sword.
However, Kondo Isamu's Kotetsu appeared in time and did not give his opponent any time to breathe. Serizawa Kamo could no longer dodge, and a large gash nearly half a foot long was cut on his abdomen. At this time, he obviously understood the identity of the attacker and frantically
He yelled: "Isamu Kondo!" Ignoring the pain of his shoulder being torn, he forcibly broke away from Hijikata's sword, rolled to the corridor while clutching his abdomen, and rushed into the next room.
But what was waiting for him was Souji Okita's bright smile.
Serizawa Kamuo did not continue to dodge this time. Not to mention that he was seriously injured at this time. Even if he was in the best condition, he would have no way to survive when faced with the siege of the second, third, fourth and fifth masters of the Shinsengumi.
He laughed miserably, shook his head and muttered: "What a pity, Okita."
The sword that slowly penetrated his throat paused. The victory was determined, and Okita didn't mind giving him a few more words.
"Of all the Shinsengumi members, I think highly of you the most. Unfortunately, although your swordsmanship talent is known as the Sky Sword, your character is far inferior to that of the gentleman you admire."
Serizawa Gamo gasped, not looking at Okita's slowly fading smile, and turned back to stare at Kondo Isamu and said: "You who rose to power by assassination will be hated by the soldiers, the shogunate, and the world. Your fate will be different.
He must be better than me."
"Hmph, words of a defeated dog! Okita." Hijikata Toizan shouted in a low voice.
Looking at Serizawa Kamo's head, which was wide-eyed with anger, Isamu Kondo sighed. Toshizo Hijikata pulled out the long knife from Ame's body and cut off her neck. The woman's screams suddenly stopped.
It was deathly calm again upstairs.
At this time, the sound of fierce fighting downstairs had not stopped yet.
Hijikata Toshizo whispered: "Brother Okita, don't pay attention to this person's nonsense. Brother Kondo, Saito, follow me to support!" Then he pursed his lips at Okita who was wiping the blood on the knife, and looked deep into the room.
, signaling him to solve the boss’s family’s troubles.
Kondo Isamu didn't realize it. He mentioned Kotetsu and strode to the battlefield downstairs. Saito Kazuichi said softly: "There is no sound, no one showed up, they are very sensible..." Before he could finish speaking, Toshizo Hijikata was already there.
He forcibly held his shoulders and walked downstairs.
Saito silently glanced at the still silent room, showing a look of unbearability, but knowing Hijikata's character well, he knew that if he raised objections again at this time, he would probably not hesitate to join forces with Souji Okita, who was watching eagerly from the side to kill him.
If you lose yourself, you can only lower your head and follow Hijikata away.
Okita was silent for a moment and smiled again. Everything was completed smoothly according to plan. Those Serizawa ducks downstairs would probably be killed soon. He casually wiped the blood stained by his feet on the mat and pushed
Open the screen.
But the situation before him was beyond his expectation.
The restaurant owner and his two women did not hug each other tremblingly and wait to die like the people they met before. Instead, they sat there fully dressed and looked at him calmly.
Okita Souji's eyes first focused on the face of the landlady who had never shown her true face. She had put the veil on her face again at some point. Did she not take it off even when sleeping? He thought doubtfully.
He took a look at the concubine in black who was shorter than him. She was about the same age as him and had a very delicate appearance. However, her indifference on her face destroyed her charm as a woman. She was incomparable to the graceful landlady. He secretly thought
With a sigh of regret, he finally looked at the restaurant owner who had always been ill.
Just one look and you can never leave the other person's face!
The face without the coarse cloth mask is definitely not as old as expected. If it weren't for the wrinkles on his forehead and corners of his eyes, he would look even younger than the slovenly Isamu Kondo. The most important thing is that Okita can swear that this man is definitely the one he has seen.
The most charming person I have ever lived! Not to mention his almost perfect facial lines, just looking at those eyes as deep as the stars, you can't help but fall in love with him.
Could this be the true face of the middle-aged sick man? No wonder Saito, who has always been cautious, judged that this boss was no ordinary person!
Okita Souji forcibly suppressed his shock, quietly clenched the handle of the knife, and his tone could not help but become solemn: "Um... this is Ichibiya?" Seeing no one responded, he touched his hair awkwardly, "Well... you are the boss.
?" It was still quiet.
The sounds downstairs slowly began to get quieter. Souji Okita calmed down and couldn't help but laugh at himself. So what if a charming man turned into a corpse and was nothing more than a corpse. He made up his mind to kill the three of them instantly.
At this moment, an unusually hoarse and low voice sounded in his ear: "If I were you, just save the energy to draw the sword, turn around and go out, and then help me clean up the store."